The Preparation Needed Before Filing a Water Damage Insurance Claim in Gulfport, MS

The last thing that will come to your mind when standing in murky water inside your kitchen or living room is filing an insurance claim. You are desperately trying to clean the mess, salvage your possessions, and protect your family. You’re not even considering the paperwork to come. Well, maybe you should. Filing an insurance claim for recent water damage is important. It’s one of the only guaranteed ways to pay for the damages, and so it must be done correctly.When it comes to water damage restoration, filing an insurance claim is step number one. You’ll then have the funds to pay a local restoration company to clean excess water and repair the damage quickly.

Preparing to File a Water Damage Insurance Claim

Filing an insurance claim after a water disaster is not cut and dry. There are preparatory steps that can help move your claim along. If you take some time to prepare, you’ll find that your claim is more readily accepted and you’re in a better position to reverse property damage.

• Review Your Policy – Many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover specific types of water damage, such as gradual water damage. As such, you need to be well-informed about what your policy covers and does not cover.
• Mitigate Damage – It is your job to prevent further damage happening to your property and possessions. You should take steps to mitigate damage by shutting off the water supply, sealing the windows, tarping the roof, and removing the excess water quickly.
• Detailed Inventory – Take some time to make a detailed inventory of any and all damaged possessions within your home. If you want full reimbursement for these items, the insurance companies will need details.
• Take Photographs – Take photographs or videos of all the damage inside and outside your home as proof of the situation. Without proof, the insurance company is liable to cut you short on your claim. You need all the help you can get.

What Not to Do When Filing an Insurance Claim

On the other hand, there are things you should never do when filing an insurance claim for water damage. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

• Do not throw anything away. You need all the evidence you can get for your water damage insurance claim and throwing things away will give the insurance company an opportunity to cut your amount.
• Do not make any permanent repairs to your home. You can mitigate damage, of course, but avoid making any permanent repairs. The insurance company won’t pay for them.
• Do not use the insurance company’s approved vendors if you have better options. You’ll be told what companies are “in-network” and the insurance company will get a slice of the payment if you use said company. There are often better, more affordable options available locally.

For 24-hour water damage restoration services and assistance in filing an insurance claim, call Restoration 1 of Gulf Coast today. You can reach us at 228-231-9745!